Mechanical book clamp

ABSTRACT

A BOOK BINDING MACHINE IS PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTED BOOK CLAMPS EACH OF WHICH IS COUPLED TO AND DRIVEN BY MEANS OF AN ENDLESS CHAIN ALONG A PATH WHICH EXTENDS IN A LOOP ABOUT THE MACHINE. EACH OF THE CLAMPS IS GUIDES ALONG THE ATH BY MEANS OF ROLLERS WHICH ARE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH A GUIDE TRACK. EACH OF THE CLAMPS ARE COMPRISED OF AN OUTER CLAMP ASSEMBLY PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AONG A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING AZIS TO AN INNER CLAMP ASSEMBLY. EACH OF THE CLAMP ASSEMBLIES HAS A CLAMP PLATE DISPOSED THEREON IN A FACING RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER. A LEVER ARM ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE OUTER CLAMP IS COUPLED THERETO IN ORDER TO EFFECT ROTATION OF THE OUTER CLAMP WITH RESPECT TO THE INNER CLAMP SO THAT A BOOK MAY BE BOUND THEREBETWEEN. WHEN THE OUTER CLAMP ASSEMBLY IS SWUNG OPEN ABOUT THE HORIZANTAL PIVOTAL AXIS, A BOOK CAN BE MOVED CONVENIENTLY TO A POSITION ADJACENT TO THE INNER CLAMP ASSEMBLY.

1972 R. B. HAWKES ETTAL 3,702,129

MECHANICAL BOOK CLAMP Filed Oct. 19, 1970 6 Sheets-Sheet l vqg -a d. [F Fl 1 N VEN TORS Plea 42o 8. HAM/K53 flaw/up do/mqm NOV. '7, 1972 w s EIAL 3,702,129

MECHANICAL BOOK CLAMP Filed Oct. 19, 1970 6 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTORS BY DOA/ALP Fla/M50 A IVER/V573 1972 R. B. HAWKES EI'AL 3,702,129

MECHANICAL BOOK CLAMP INVENTOR. ee/M20 5. Hem/K5 BY Damn? I. dorm/5 0M Arm/P0675 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 *bg 6w Filed Oct. 19, 1970 Nov. '1, 1972 R HAWKES m1. 3,702,129

MECHANICAL BOOK CLAMP 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 19, 1970 s. mmww m T A m m50 '6 A P/ch' B y 304 4 1972 R. B. HAWKES ETAL 3,702,129

MECHANICAL BOOK CLAMP 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed 001;. 19, 1970 s w m W m United States Patent US. Cl. 198-180 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A book binding machine is provided with a plurality of interconnected book clamps each of which is coupled to and driven by means of an endless chain along a path which extends in a loop about the machine. Each of the clamps is guided along the path by means of rollers which are in engagement with a guide track. Each of the clamps are comprised of an outer clamp assembly pivotally mounted along a horizontally extending axis to an inner clamp assembly. Each of the clamp assemblies has a clamp plate disposed thereon in a facing relationship with one another. A lever arm rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the outer clamp is coupled thereto in order to effect rotation of the outer clamp with respect to the inner clamp so that a book may be bound therebetween. When the outer clamp assembly is swung open about the horizontal pivotal axis, a book can be moved conveniently to a position adjacent to the inner clamp assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a book clamp for a book binding machine and more particularly to a book clamp which is adapted to accommodate books consisting of different thicknesses as determined by the number and thicknesses of the signatures making up the book.

Included in the prior art are a variety of clamps utilized in book binding machines to hold together a plurality of signatures to be bound into a book. The signatures are held in fixed manner so that they may be conveyed along the binding machine wherein the necessary operations are performed in order to properly bind the complete book. These clamps have frequently consisted of oppositely disposed plate-like members which reciprocate while remaining parallel to one another.

These prior art clamps in which the outer clamp reciprocates while remaining parallel with respect to a fixed inner clamp generally have presented deficiencies with respect to the degree of available clamping force. The lack of mechanical advantage in producing the clamping force in the prior clamps has required the use of ever increasingly heavier springs. The use of heavier springs has been accompanied by heavier loads being applied by the springs to the clamp structure. This has required heavier construction throughout the clamp to withstand the increased stress accompanying such spring forces.

Prior attempts at providing hinged book clamps have been often accompanied by difiiculties in obtaining sufficient clamping force as well as the proper motion during opening and closing of the clamp. Furthermore prior hinged book clamps were often of excessively heavy construction due to the concentrated and unbalanced loads which can occur within a hinged clamp. Of course such heavy construction can prevent high speed operation due to the resultingly high inertia loads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, a book clamp is provided which includes an inner and outer clamp assembly. Each of the clamp assemblies includes a clamp plate disposed in a facing 3,702,129 Patented Nov. 7, 1972 relationship with one another. The outer clamp assembly is pivotally mounted about a substantially horizontal axis and rotatable with respect to the inner clamp assembly in order to hold a book securely therebetween when the clamping force is applied. A lever arm which is rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the outer clamp assembly is disposed adjacent thereto. Resilient means are provided to couple the lever arm and the other end of the outer clamp assembly to elfect rotation of the latter in conjunction with the rotation of the lever arm.

In one of the embodiments, a guide means is disposed adjacent to and engaged by the lever arm so that as the lever arm is rotated towards the inner clamp assembly, the outer clamp is urged in the same direction thereby facilitating the clamping of a book therebetween. Additionally, a tension spring assembly is utilized to couple the respective clamp assemblies and urge them into engagement with one another. A second or actuating arm may also be provided in order to effect rotation of the lever arm. The second arm is rotatable about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of the lever arm and is coupled at one end thereof to the lever arm. Further, a spring assembly couples the other end of the second arm to the inner clamp assembly in order to further urge the clamp plates into engagement.

A cam surface is disposed along the path of the machine at the appropriate station. When the clamp is to be opened the cam surface is engaged by the second arm. This causes the lever arm and the outer clamp assembly to rotate away from the inner clamp assembly into the opened position. At this point, a group of signatures may be inserted between the clamp assemblies. When the second arm becomes disengaged from the cam surface, the clamps are urged into engagement and the book fixedly clamped therebetween.

One of the features of the described apparatus is that a sufiicient clamping force may be provided between the clamp assemblies for different thicknesses of a group of signatures. This then eliminates the undesirable disassembly time necessary in some prior art machines for making adjustments when changing from one thickness of the signatures to another.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simplified and effective clamping means to hold a group of signatures for binding.

It is another object of this invention to provide a book clamp which can conveniently accommodate various thicknesses of groups of signatures.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide an improved track construction along which book clamps are conveyed.

-It is a further object of this invention to provide a book clamp which is adapted to apply a sufiicient clamping force to different thicknesses of a group of signatures without any external adjustment.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the book binding machine showing a plurality of the book clamps of the invention positioned along the extent of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the book clamps of the invention in a partially open position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a book clamp in a closed position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a book clamp illustrating the manner in which the actuating arm for the clamp is mounted;

FIG. is an end elevation view of a book clamp in a closed position; and

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view of a book clamp showing the book clamp opened.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, the book binding machine is illustrated with a plurality of book clamp assemblies 10 traveling along an endless path in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIG. 1. A chain drive including roller chain 11 having chain links 11a is provided to drive each of the clamp assemblies 10 (FIGS. 3-6). The clamp assemblies are supported by brackets 11b which are pivotally mounted by pins 110 in engagement with the chain links 11a (FIGS. 5 and 6). Additionally, the machine is provided with upper and lower tracks 12 and 1 3', respectively, to control the path of travel of the plurality of clamp assemblies. Each of the guide tracks 12 and 13 are securedto frame 14 of the machine and define the elongated closed-loop path of travel thereabout.

Clamp assemblies 10 are each provided with rollers for supporting and guiding on the clamp tracks, thereby controlling with respect to the movement of the assemblies thereabout. In the case of the upper track 12, an upper support roller 15 and two lower rollers 16 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) are oppositely disposed to engage the upper and lower surfaces respectively of track 12 in order to mount each clamp assembly with respect thereto. Roller 15 is positioned in the central portion of the clamp assembly and therefore supports the clamp assembly in line with the center of gravity. Rollers 16 are located opposite ends of the clamp. A pair of outer rollers 17 mounted adjacent opposite ends of the clamp assembly engage the outer sidesjof the upper track 12 and restrain horizontal movement of the clamp assembly. A similar pair of outer rollers 19 engage the outer side of the lower track 13 to provide a similar restraint. Inner rollers 18 and 20 are provided in the center portion of the respective assemblies and engage the innersides of the upper and lower tracks, respectively (FIGS. 3 and 5).

The individual clamp assemblies 10 comprise an inner and outer portion, with the outer portion being rotatable with respect to the fixed inner portion, the latter being connected to the drive chain 11 as previously described. The inner clamp assembly includes a heavy gauge clamp plate 31 which is mounted to the metal frame 32 (FIG. 6). Additionally the frame 32 acts as a mounting member for each of the roller assemblies which engage the respective guide tracks. A pair of protruding supports 33 extend from the inner clamp assembly 30 and act as a mounting about which the outer clamp assembly 40 is rotated. A tube or hollow shaft 41 having stub shafts 41a connected to the outer clamp assembly facilitates rotating the latter with respect to the stationary inner clampassembly. Arms 42 and 43 extend downward from the tube 41. Brackets 45 which support the outer clamp plate 44 coupled thereto are pivotally mounted on shaft 45a which is fixedly retained in arms 42 and 4-3.

Disposed adjacent the right hand side of each of the clamp assemblies as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3 is a bell crank 50 which is pivotally mounted in the block 32a of frame 32 (FIG. 6) and rotatable thereabout by shaft 32b. Tension spring 51 is connected at one end thereof to bell crank 50 by pin 50a thereof. The other end of the spring is fastened to the bracket 45 by means of the pin 52 attached to the end of shaft 45a.

Interposed between bell crank 50 and each of the clamp assemblies is a cam arm 60 which is keyed to one of stub shafts 41a. Thus cam arm 60 swings with the outer clamp assembly. Cam arm 60 contains a slotted cam 62 in which is disposed cam roller follower 63 pivotally mounted on the lower end of the vbell crank 50 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6). As a result as the bell crank 50 is rotated, the outer clamp assembly 40 moves in conjunction therewith as will be more fully described.

Rotation of the bell crank 50 is accomplished by means of a lever or actuating arm 70 (FIG. 4) which is pivotally mounted on vertically extending pivot 70a which is mounted on base 70b attached to frame 32. Actuating arm 70 at one end thereof is provided with cam roller follower 71. Tension spring 72 is pivotally connected at one end thereof by pin 72a to actuating arm 70 adjacent to follower 71. At its other end the spring is connected by pivot 72b to frame 32. The spring serves to bias actuating arm 70 in a clock-wise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 to urge follower 71 into rolling contact with cam 22. At the other end of actuating arm 70 there is provided a ball joint 74 for connecting link 75 thereto. Link 15 is connected at its other end to the bell crank 50 by means of ball joint 76 and thereby provides a flexible coupling which allows the bell crank to be swung in conjunction with the pivoting of the actuating arm 70.

Another spring assembly 80 extends between the inner and outer clamp assemblies (FIG. 1). One end of spring 80 is engaged with sleeve 800 which is coupled by ball joint 80b to support 33 of the inner fixed clamp assembly 30. The other end of spring 80 engages rod 80c which is nested in a sliding relation within sleeve 80a. Rod 800 is coupled to bracket 45 by ball joint 80d. Spring 80 is lightly pre-loaded in compression. Rod .800 includes pin 802 which extends through the rod and into slot 80) in sleeve 80a. Spring 80 urges rod 800 away from sleeve 80a and thereby causes pin 80s to bottom in the slot. When the pin is bottomed in the slot, rod 800 and sleeve 80a act as a one-piece member or link of a predetermined length. Of course due to the presence of spring 80, the spring force can be overcome with the result that the length of rod 800 and sleeve 8 0a becomes shortened.

Thus rod 800 and sleeve 80a comprise one bar of a standard length of a four bar linkage including support 33, arm 42 and bracket 45. The system of rod 800 and sleeve 8011 with pin 80c bottomed in response to spring 80 controls the position of clamp plate 44 with respect to arms 42 and 43 to which it is pivotally mounted by stub shafts 52. Thus spring 80 applies a clockwise movement to clamp plate 44 as viewed in FIG. 1. As a result the clamp plate is rotated clockwise into engagement with the inner edge 42a of arm 42 whenever the arm is swung to the open position.

OPERATION In operation, each of the clamp assemblies 10 is driven via chain 11 and travel along the endless path of the machine defined by tracks 12 and 13 (FIGS. 12 and 13). As a clamp assembly approaches a loading station at which a book is to be positioned between the clamp assemblies, the outer clamp assembly 40 is opened outwardly and upwardly from the stationary inner clamp assembly 30 (FIG. 6). The opening of the outer clamp assembly is accomplished by means of the cam 22 disposed on the machine adjacent the loading station.

At the loading station, the cam 22 is engaged by the roller cam follower 71 mounted on the end of the actuating arm 70. Actuating arm 70 is htereby rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 against the force of tension spring 72. This rotation of arm 70 causes the bell crank 50 to be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in vFIGS. 5 and 6 since the latter is connected thereto by means of link 75. The clockwise movement of bell crank 50 is in opposition to the tension force applied to bell crank 50 by tension spring 51. As the bell crank swings upwardly, roller cam follower 63 is moved along the slotted cam 62 of arm 60 which causes the latter to also be rotated upwardly. The rotational movement initially imparted to arm 60 by follower 63 is limited due to the contour 62a of the cam track of cam 62. As a result pin 50a of bell crank 50 moves relative to pin 52 on the end of shaft 45a. The relative motion causes spring 51 to stretch as it applies an increasing force to pin 52 which urges the outer clamp to swing upwardly. In this manner the outer clamp assembly 40 is rotated away from the fixed inner clamp assembly 30 as illustrated in FIG. 6'. When clamp plate 44 is moved out of engagement with the book held against clamp plate '31, clamp plate 44 remains parallel to plate 31 until clamp plate 44 contacts the arms 42 and 43. Thus sleeve 80a and rod 800 with pin 80e bottomed in response to spring 80 act as a link of predetermined length which serves in the four bar linkage to keep clamp plate 44 parallel to clamp plate 31.

When clamp plate 44 contacts arm 42 and 43, spring 80 is compressed as rod 800 is telescoped with sleeve 80a and pin 802 is moved from its bottomed position. Thus at this time pin 80e advances up slot 80g in sleeve 80a. Thus after clamp plate 44 contacts arms 42 and 45, clamp plate 44 has moved in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 6 against arms 42 and 43.

As bell crank 50 continues to swing upwardly, follower 63 passes into contour 62b of the cam track of cam 62. Before spring 51 reaches the position shown in FIG. 6, spring 51 is elongated to a maximum extent and then shortens as the tension is reduced. As a result in the extreme upward position shown in FIG. 6, the spring is still elongated greater than as show in FIG. but not as great as in FIG. 2. When spring 51 is being shortened at the upper portion of its path of movement, the spring is transferring energy to the outer clamp system in order to maintain it in an opened condition.

Once the outer clamp assembly has been opened, a group of signatures 2-5 can be inserted between the respective clamp assemblies as illustrated in FIG. 3. The signature are advanced at an angle beneath the elevated outer clamp assembly. When the group of signatures is level with respect, to the clamp assemblies, the outer clamp assembly is lowered into its closed position.

As the clamp assembly is further moved along the endless path of the machine, actuating arm 70 is disengaged from the cam 22 and accordingly rotates in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4) because of the force exerted by spring 72. This rotation of actuating arm 70 also causes the bell crank 50 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction since the members are interconnected by flexible coupling 75 (FIG. 6). As the bell crank 50 is rotated toward the inner clamp assembly 30, the roller cam follower 63 engages the lower end of the slotted cam 62 and positively rotates the outer clamp assembly 40 into clamping engagement with the signatures 25 inserted between the respective clamp assemblies. Roller follower 63 urges the slotted cam 62 inwardly, thereby applying a counterclockwise movement to arm 60. In turn arm 60 transmits the movement of stub shaft 42a which is coupled to tube 41. The construction of tube 41 provides torsional stifiness to the tube with the result that it can transmit a heavy clamping movement to both of arms 42 and 43 without any appreciable torsional deflection.

During the lowering of the outer clamp assembly, spring 51 continues to bias arm 43 toward pin 50a in bell crank 50. The spring is additionally stretched from its elongated uppermost position as the outer plate descends. Subsequently the extent of stretch decreases until the outer clamp assembly is fully lowered and spring 51 is again in its condition of minimum elongation.

In FIG. 5 the outer clamp assembly is shown in its extreme closed position since an extremely thin group of signatures 25 are disposed between the clamp plates. With thicker groups of signatures the counterclockwise movement of the outer clamp assembly as viewed in FIG. 5 would not be as great.

During the closing of the outer clamp assembly, a point is reached at which outer clamp plate 44 is moved out of contact with arms 42 and 43. Spring 80 extends rod 80c away from sleeve 80a until a point is reached at which pin 80e bottoms in slot 80g of the sleeve. F or the remainder of the closing of the outer clamp assembly, the pin remains bottomed as the rod and sleeve act as a link of fixed predetermined length.

In this manner, a sufiicient amount of clamping force is exerted by the outer clamp assembly to hold a group of signatures therebetween while the book binding operations are performed. 'Further, the force exerted by the outer clamp is suflicient to hold different thicknesses of signatures without any substantial adjustment. Accordingly, a clamping force is developed which can accommodate various thicknesses of signatures without any disassembly or adjustments.

What is claimed is:

1. A book clamp for a book binding machine having means for conveying a book through the binding operations therein, said book clamp being adapted to expose the binding edge of a book clamped therein for the binding operations to be performed thereupon, said book clamp comprising:

means for mounting said book clamp with respect to the conveying means for movement therewith;

an inner clamp plate connected to said mounting means and having a surface adapted to engage one side of a book with the binding edge thereof exposed; an outer clamp plate pivotally connected to said mounting means, said outer clamp plate having an inner surface for engaging the outer side of the book with the binding edge thereof exposed when said outer clamp plate is closed into a facing relationship with said inner clamp plate; and means for actuating said outer clamp plate between an open position in which said outer clamp plate is swung away from said inner clamp plate and a closed position in which said outer clamp plate is swung into a facing relationship with said inner clamp plate;

said actuating means including a crank pivotally supported with respect to said mounting means for movement between first and second positions thereof;

lever means connected to said outer clamp plate adjacent to the pivotal axis thereof; means for coupling said crank to said lever means for moving said outer clamp plate between the closed position and the open position thereof as said crank is moved between its first and second positions; and

means for cyclically moving said crank between its first and second positions to swing said outer clamp plate with respect to said inner clamp plate.

2. A book clamp in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for coupling said crank to said lever comprises a cam track extending at an angle with respect to the pivotal axis of said lever and a roller pivotally mounted upon said crank and in engagement with said cam track, whereby the movement of the roller with respect to the cam track transmits motion from said crank to said lever and thereby said outer clamp plate.

3. A book clamp in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for applying a binding force between said crank and said arm means, said biasing force urging each of said crank and said arm means to rotate toward one another, said crank being urged in a direction extending away from said inner clamp plate.

4. A book clamp in accordance with claim 3 in which said means for applying a biasing force between said crank and said arm means comprises a resilient tension member.

5. A book clamp in accordance with claim 4 in which said resilient tension member comprises a coil spring.

6. A book clamp in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for actuating said outer clamp plate further comprises an additional crank pivotally supported upon said means for mounting said book clamp with respect to the conveying means, one end of said additional crank being coupled to said crank and the other end of said additional crank being adapted to be engaged by a forceapplying member for cyclically reciprocating said additional crank to move said outer clamp plate between the open and closed positions thereof.

7. A book clamp in accordance with claim 6 in which said additional crank is provided at the other end thereof with a roller element for transmitting force from a force applying member to said additional crank.

8. A book clamp in accordance with claim 6 in which said additional crank is biased in a direction in which said additional crank urges said outer clamp plate into its closed position.

9. A book clamp in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for actuating said outer clamp plate are connected to said mounting means and said arm means only at one side of said book clamp.

10. A book clamp for a book binding machine having means for conveying a book through the binding operations therein, said book clamp being adapted to expose the binding edge of a book clamped therein for the binding operations to be performed thereupon, said book clamp comprising:

means for mounting said book clamp with respect to the conveying means for movement therewith;

an inner clamp plate connected to said mounting means and having a surface adapted to engage one side of a book with the binding edge thereof exposed; arm means pivotally connected to said mounting means; an outer clamp plate and means supporting said outer clamp plate on said arm means for movement therewith, said outer clamp plate having an inner surface for engagng the other side of thebook with the binding edge thereof exposed when said outer clamp plate is closed into a facing relationship with said inner clamp plate;

means for actuating said arm means for pivoting movement between an open position in which said outer clamp plate is swung away from said inner clamp plate and a closed position in which said outer clamp plate is swung into a facing relationship with said inner clamp plate; and

means extending between said mounting means and said outer clamp plate and cooperating with said means supporting said outer clamp plate onsaid arm means for shiftably positioning said outer clamp plate relative to said arm means to a position sub stantially parallel to said inner clamp plate when in engagement with a book disposed therebetween.

11. A book clamp in accordance with claim 10 in which said means extending between said mounting means and said outer clamp plate for positioning said outer clamp plate substantially parallel to said inner clamp plate when in engagement wtih a book disposed therebetween comprises a link pivotally connected at each of the ends thereof to said mounting means and said outer clamp plate.

12.? A book clamp in accordance with claim 11 in which said outer clamp plate is pivotally connected to said arm means and in which the link pivotally connected at each of the ends thereof to said mounting means and said outer clamp plate comprises a resilient member urging said outer clamp plate to rotate toward said arm means and away from said inner clamp plate and into a position in which said outer clamp plate is substantially parallel to said inner clamp plate when adjacent thereto.

13. A book clamp in accordance with claim 12 in which said link pivotally connected at each of the ends thereof to said mounting means and said outer clamp plate comprises a sleeve having a rod slidingly nested therein, the free ends of said sleeve and said rod being pivotally connected to different ones of said arm means and said outer clamp plate, a coiled spring disposed about said sleeve and said rod and extending between the pivotal connection thereof to said arm means and said outer clamp plate, and means for limiting the movement of said rod away from said sleeve to a predetermined overall length, said coil spring biasing the said rod and said sleeve to the predetermined length which enables said rod and said sleeve to serve both as said link having a predetermined length and said link being resiliently deflected to have a less than predetermined length.

14. A book binding machine comprising:

means for conveying a book along a predetermined path of travel;

book clamp means connected to said conveying means with said book clamp means being adapted to expose the binding edge of a book clamped therein for a binding operation, said book clamp means including book clamp fname means; I

an inner clamp plate on said book clamp frame means with said inner clamp plate having a surface adapted to engage one side of a book with the binding edge thereof exposed; an outer clamp plate pivotally mounted on said book clamp frame means with said outer clamp plate having an inner surface for engaging the other side of the book with the binding edge thereof exposed when the outer clamp plate is pivoted into a facing relationship with said inner clamp plate; lever means pivotally supported on said book clamp frame means; linkage means operatively interconnecting said lever means and said outer clamp plate with said linkage means cooperating with said lever means to pivot said outer clamp'plate as said lever means is pivoted; resilient means operatively interconnecting said lever means and said outer clamp plate; said linkage means and said resilient means coacting with said lever means as said lever means is pivoted to move said outer clamp plate toward or away from said inner clamp plate; and book clamp actuating cam means on said book binding machine positioned along said predetermined path of travel with said cam means cooperating with said lever means to impart pivoting movement to said lever means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,942,719 6/1960 Bofinger 198---l80 X EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner 

